* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Tottori Castle
鳥取城
Tottori Castle is a historic castle in Chūgoku dating from the Built around 1540 (Tenbun 9), whose lord was Ikeda Mitsumasa.
Overview
About the Castle
Tottori Castle is a complex castle system in the center of Inaba Province, consisting of a mountain castle (yamajiro) built on Mount Kyūshōzan (elevation 263 meters) on the west bank of the Sendai River, along with secondary and tertiary enclosures (ni-no-maru and san-no-maru) at its base. It is believed to have been built by the Yamana clan of Inaba around the Tenbun era (1532–1555). During the Sengoku period, military commanders such as Takeda Shigenobu and Yamana Toyokuni served as castellans. In the 9th year of Tenshō (1581), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (then Hashiba) conducted the infamous "Tottori Starvation Siege" through supply deprivation, waging a devastating siege in which castle soldiers and domain subjects died of hunger. This siege is recorded in history as one of the cruelest examples of starvation siege in Japanese history.
The Ikeda Clan and Dune Culture
From the 6th year of Keichō (1601) onwards following the Battle of Sekigahara, Ikeda Nagayoshi was enfeoffed as lord of Tottori Castle. Subsequently, in the 3rd year of Genna (1617), Ikeda Mitsumasa took control with 320,000 koku of combined Inaba and Hōki domains. The castle was then maintained and expanded, becoming the administrative center of Inaba domain. Ikeda Mitsumasa in particular is renowned as a virtuous daimyo of the Okayama domain (later Tottori domain), and made strenuous efforts to promote learning and martial arts. The Tottori Sand Dunes, which spread along the Sea of Japan coast near Tottori Castle, are Japan's largest sand dunes and symbolize the unique natural environment of Inaba Province. They are also known as the production site of whetstones (Inshū-to) made from dune sand. Inshū-to are prized by sword artisans throughout Japan as an indispensable natural whetstone for finishing sword blades.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Starvation Siege
The siege of Tottori Castle in the 9th year of Tenshō was a particularly renowned operation among Hideyoshi's campaigns in the Chūgoku region. Hideyoshi made meticulous advance preparations by monopolizing rice purchases at inflated prices throughout the surrounding Tottori area, ensuring the castle garrison's provisions would be depleted. When the castle surrendered, deaths from starvation numbered in the thousands, and the castellan Yoshikawa Tsuneie committed suicide on condition of clemency for his soldiers. This siege, possessed of both "victory through stratagem" and "tragic consequences," is transmitted in history as a historical event exemplifying the tension between Hideyoshi's ruthless military strategy and humanitarian concerns.
Whetstone Production Sites for Sword Blades
Both Inaba and Hōki provinces (present-day Tottori Prefecture) have long been known as production sites of whetstones indispensable for polishing sword blades. Both "Hakushū-to" (Hōki whetstones) and "Inshū-to" (Inaba whetstones) were highly valued by sword artisans throughout Japan. Whetstones were the most critical tools for sword smiths in determining blade finish, and regions producing high-quality whetstones naturally became important centers of sword culture. During the Edo period, the Ikeda domain managed and promoted these whetstone industries as a vital economic resource of the domain.
Sword Smiths of Inaba and Hōki Yasutsuna
Hōki Province (present-day western Tottori Prefecture), adjacent to Inaba Province where Tottori Castle stands, is one of the sacred sites of Japanese sword-smithing. Hōki Yasutsuna was a legendary sword smith of the mid-to-late Heian period (9th–10th centuries) and is credited with forging "Dōjigiri Yasutsuna," one of the "Five Great Swords of Japan." Dōjigiri Yasutsuna is a legendary blade said to have been wielded by Minamoto no Raikō to slay the demon Shuten Dōji on Mount Ōeyama, and is now a National Treasure housed in the Tokyo National Museum. The Tottori and Hōki regions occupy a unique place in Japanese sword history as the birthplace of the highest-caliber sword smiths from the dawn of Japanese sword-smithing.
Connection to Swords
Tottori Castle's sword heritage is rooted in the extraordinary legacy of Hōki Yasutsuna, the legendary Heian-period smith from neighboring Hōki Province (western Tottori). His masterwork, Dōjigiri Yasutsuna — named for the legend that Minamoto no Yorimitsu used it to slay the demon Shuten-dōji — is considered one of Japan's 'Five Great Swords' and is now a National Treasure in the Tokyo National Museum. Equally important, Inaba and Hōki provinces were Japan's premier producers of the natural whetstones (toishi) essential for polishing sword blades. The Inshū-to and Hakushū-to whetstones from this region were prized by swordsmiths nationwide, making Tottori a crucial — if often overlooked — pillar of Japanese sword culture.
Highlights
- Mountain castle ruins on Mt. Kyūshō — panoramic views of the Tottori plain and Sea of Japan
- Jinpūkaku Villa — Meiji-era western-style building; former Ikeda marquis guesthouse; Important Cultural Property
- Tottori Sand Dunes — Japan's largest sand dune system, 15 min by car from the castle
- Tottori Prefectural Museum — Ikeda family swords and armor, regional history
- Castle approach stone walls — showcase of diverse Edo-period masonry techniques
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.